As you know, the UN and US forces aided South Korea Immensely. How do you feel about that?
What was your most terrifying and hurting moment of the Korean War?
What do you think caused the Korean War?
Did you get any close contact with the North Korean Soldiers?
Do you support the unification?
Since North Korea was your hometown, do you want to go back there?
How did the war affect your life?
How do you think about Rhee Seung Man?
The place where you were staying was it safe?
I heard you were a translator... What did you do? What was life like as a translator?
The war shaped Korea so much. How do you think Korea transferred before the war and after the war?
Due to one of the results of the war, there are still some US troops in Korea. What do you think about that?
Do you think that the war was inevitable?
The war isn’t actually over. Do you think North Korea and South Korea will fight again?
Do you want to say anything for the last time?
Reflection:
I always heard from my dad how harsh and troublesome it was to live in South Korea 40 years ago. He was so amazed when South Korea was one of the countries in the top 10 of the Olympic with North Korea. Now, through this interview, I not only widened my view of the Korean War, but as a Korean citizen I learned more about the Korean people of the past.
Through this oral interview, my grandpa introduced me to many new concepts of the war. Even though, his life during the Korea war was actually very safe and peaceful unlike the rest, I learned the hardships and the mental breakdowns he went through during the war was very unbearable. He said that even though he wasn't in a situation of being killed, he heard from the radio how devastating and horrific it was in the city.
A question that was able to be answered through this interview was "Why did my grandpa so strongly support the unification?". I couldn't understand the reason why he wanted to unify Korea because I didn't live through the time when Korea was actually one. However, my grandpa did. He lived through a time when his two elder brothers were studying in South Korea, and the rest of his family was living in the North. This proves how much he still believes that Korea is actually one not divided into two.
While I was interviewing my grandpa, I could constantly see my grandpa open his mouth but no words coming out. He didn't know what to say. The Korea War itself was very poignant to him. I respect my grandpa for he is one of the bravest person in the war. He was able to repress his fears and shock and survive and live perfectly. I think interviewing another person orally is more effective than learning from the textbook because it is more real and live. I could see the answerer's impression, eye movements, fingers fidgeting, and more.
It was surprising when I asked my grandpa about Rhee Seung Man. Not like the other elders, he had a very similar mind with Mr.Plouffe. He believed that Rhee-Seung Man was a very influential leader in independence movement, but not a strong leader to lead the Korean war. I thought of the reason why he might have thought like this, and it was because, he saw Korea today more important than the past. He viewed Rhee-Seung Man with an unbiased view.
I met up with my grandparents periodically. However, all the conversations we had were only about my studies, or their health. I was able to learn more abut my grandparents generation through this interview. If it weren't for this project, I wouldn't have learned anything about this event from my grandparents. I was able to get into my grandparents shoes and view the Korean war with different perspective. I thank Mr.Plouffe for this project, because I was able to experience something that was so new and fresh.
Korean War Project
The first few questions emphasize on my Grandpa's memories, and the rest are his thoughts and opinions of the Korean War.
Thank you: )
Video:
Korean War Video from Catherin Kim on Vimeo.
Transcription:
Has specific timings for each questions
Oral Release Form:
Interview Questions:
Reflection:
I always heard from my dad how harsh and troublesome it was to live in South Korea 40 years ago. He was so amazed when South Korea was one of the countries in the top 10 of the Olympic with North Korea. Now, through this interview, I not only widened my view of the Korean War, but as a Korean citizen I learned more about the Korean people of the past.
Through this oral interview, my grandpa introduced me to many new concepts of the war. Even though, his life during the Korea war was actually very safe and peaceful unlike the rest, I learned the hardships and the mental breakdowns he went through during the war was very unbearable. He said that even though he wasn't in a situation of being killed, he heard from the radio how devastating and horrific it was in the city.
A question that was able to be answered through this interview was "Why did my grandpa so strongly support the unification?". I couldn't understand the reason why he wanted to unify Korea because I didn't live through the time when Korea was actually one. However, my grandpa did. He lived through a time when his two elder brothers were studying in South Korea, and the rest of his family was living in the North. This proves how much he still believes that Korea is actually one not divided into two.
While I was interviewing my grandpa, I could constantly see my grandpa open his mouth but no words coming out. He didn't know what to say. The Korea War itself was very poignant to him. I respect my grandpa for he is one of the bravest person in the war. He was able to repress his fears and shock and survive and live perfectly. I think interviewing another person orally is more effective than learning from the textbook because it is more real and live. I could see the answerer's impression, eye movements, fingers fidgeting, and more.
It was surprising when I asked my grandpa about Rhee Seung Man. Not like the other elders, he had a very similar mind with Mr.Plouffe. He believed that Rhee-Seung Man was a very influential leader in independence movement, but not a strong leader to lead the Korean war. I thought of the reason why he might have thought like this, and it was because, he saw Korea today more important than the past. He viewed Rhee-Seung Man with an unbiased view.
I met up with my grandparents periodically. However, all the conversations we had were only about my studies, or their health. I was able to learn more abut my grandparents generation through this interview. If it weren't for this project, I wouldn't have learned anything about this event from my grandparents. I was able to get into my grandparents shoes and view the Korean war with different perspective. I thank Mr.Plouffe for this project, because I was able to experience something that was so new and fresh.